Many of today's technology services focused on education collect large amounts of data and analyze it to identify issues and propose ways to improve learning. 

In fact, data analysis can be very useful for teachers and school administrators, but indiscriminate data collection raises a number of ethical concerns, especially when it comes to children in schools.  

“We must never lose sight of the purpose of data collection, the tools being used, and how they work. We are often dealing with sensitive data, such as behavioral data,” said Professor Kruakae Pothong, a researcher at the British organization 5Rights Foundation, which studies digital ethics and data protection. The expert gave a lecture on datafication in education on the first day of Bett UK. 

According to her, the key is to put children’s interests first so that they benefit—and are not exploited for economic gain. To achieve this, in addition to good intentions, it is necessary to seek out companies that offer transparency in their solutions, Kruakae recommended. 

The good news is that there are plenty of options on the market—you just have to walk through the aisles at Bett UK or, in May, at Bett Brasil, to see that for yourself. That way, school administrators can choose safe solutions for their students.

 

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